Victory Gbakara has emerged as the winner of the 8th edition of the music talent reality show, Nigerian Idol. The promising singer floored Precious Mac to clinch the coveted grand prize of ₦100m worth as they both gathered over 33 million votes.
The 2023 edition which hit the airwaves on April 23, 2023, had popular TV personality, IK Osakioduwa as the host, and its three judges – Obi Asika, Simi and D’banj. The Multichoice Nigeria-sponsored live show began with over 10,000 auditioners who were whittled down to 29 talents by a rigorous selection process. The final 10 contestants were then drawn to compete in the country’s most popular music reality talent show – Reigny, Abraham, Quest, Chisom, Savvy Henry, Constance, Precious Mac, Victory, Ose Daniel and Goodness.
In the end, two contestants, Precious Mac and Victory Gbakara, made it to the finale. They earned more votes than Quest – another promising contestant who was evicted from the show the previous week.
It was reported that 33 million votes were received during that week alone. The finale also recorded the same 33 million votes. This season saw over 166 million votes in eight weeks of the show.
Over the years, Nigerian Idol has consistently brought out the best music talents across the nation. Incredible stars such as Timi Dakolo, Mercy Chinwo, Progress Chukwuyem, Kingdom Kroseide, and Omawumi have emerged through the platform which targets singers between the ages of 16 and 30. Aired on DStv and GOtv, the show has become a reality television tradition for music buffs attracting sponsors: BIGI Drinks and Tecno.
While reflecting on the successful end to the eighth season of Nigerian Idol, the CEO, West Africa, Multichoice, John Ugbe remarks: “It is always gratifying for us to create an opportunity for aspiring singers to shine. There’s no gainsaying that Nigeria is a powerhouse of music to the world. The nation is rich with budding music talents who yearn to become the next idols. We are happy to make this dream of young Nigerians become a reality not just on screen but in real life.’’
Speaking on the grand finale, the Head of Content and West Africa Channels, Multichoice, Dr. Busola Tejumola says: “At Multichoice, we are very intentional about what our content can do for our audience and the community at large. Beyond its entertainment value, Nigerian Idol is a catalyst for economic growth towards enriching lives.’’
Victory Gbakara is going home with ₦35m cash, A brand new SUV, one Bigi Refrigerator and one year’s supply of Bigi soft drinks, an all-expense paid trip courtesy Tecno, a music record deal by a reputable label that will include a video shoot, 1 year supply of WAW detergent, and a fully installed DStv Explora with one year of Premium subscription.
Fans who want to continue enjoying the season’s performances can head over to the Nigerian Idol YouTube page or follow the top two on their social media pages.
This is really huge, congrats to him, kudos to the brands like TECNO that sponsored this show too.